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For the non-hybrid (that has the battery up front), can you wire the trailer light power to the accessory socket in the rear? I think that is a 10amp source. Perhaps label it not to use when trailer is connected.
I didn't see one of those, but yeah, I would totally do that if I could find it.
Just installed myself Draw-Tite the hitch receiver model#76201 on 2022 nx450h+ F Sport. Easy to mount and fits very well. Returned Lexus original activity mount. It was a joke 150 lbs max. I need to figure out wiring now.
I have a 22 NX 450H+ F-Sport too. In looking at the part # you installed, it excludes the F-Sport per their website. Did it fit anyway? Any issues or cutting?
I have activity mount installed but I don't like it as it recesses from the bumper too much. I have a hard time finding a platform bike rack that fits.
Does that make it better with the ground clearance - e.g. if it does not stick out, probably does not hit on steep driveways as much?
to put on my 2024 NX350h. I will post again (with photos) if it goes on well. Both Draw Tite and Etrailer confirm it for the 2023 350h, so I'm assuming it works for the 2024, though I may be the first one to try.
In the past I've used a lot of Curt hitches, but from the photos I've seen the crossbar on the Draw Tite is much more hidden than the Curt model https://www.curtmfg.com/part/13498
In fact, just looking at the photos from the web you can see that the Draw Tite crossbar is forward of the rear-most mounting holes, while on the Curt the crossbar is much further to the rear of the rear-most mounting holes.
Draw Tite 76634 Curt 13498
I will also let you know if the kick sensor still works well. I'm hoping that the Draw Tite being more "under" the car will keep it out of the way of the kick sensor.
I was talking to my dealer yesterday and told her I was installing my own after-market "real" trailer hitch (to fit my bike mount) instead of the Lexus "activity mount" but I (and everyone on here) was wondering if Lexus was ever going to make the proper wiring harness for a 4-flat connection in case I wanted to pull a UHaul someday.
She said something I've never heard mentioned - "Lexus does not and will not recommend towing a trailer on any of the hybrid/electric cars because the momentum of the trailer will damage the regenerative braking system. You'll never see us sell a real trailer mount or wiring harness for the 2nd generation NX models"
Not sure why they sold me a 2000-lb towing package (for $160)!! But, weird, huh?
I was talking to my dealer yesterday and told her I was installing my own after-market "real" trailer hitch (to fit my bike mount) instead of the Lexus "activity mount" but I (and everyone on here) was wondering if Lexus was ever going to make the proper wiring harness for a 4-flat connection in case I wanted to pull a UHaul someday.
She said something I've never heard mentioned - "Lexus does not and will not recommend towing a trailer on any of the hybrid/electric cars because the momentum of the trailer will damage the regenerative braking system. You'll never see us sell a real trailer mount or wiring harness for the 2nd generation NX models"
Not sure why they sold me a 2000-lb towing package (for $160)!! But, weird, huh?
Lexus also sells and installs the factory tow hitch and a wiring kit. Your owners manual will tell you the tow rating (1500 or 2000lb). The dealers are far from experts and unless backed by something in writing from Lexus, should not to be trusted. What I find strange is the tow ratings of the Rav4 (same car) are up to 3500 lbs.
This is from the Lexus Brochure:
28. Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner’s Manual. The maximum you can tow depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. “Added vehicle equipment” includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle’s exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo. See Owner’s Manual for limitations.
What is even stranger is no one (I have spoke to corporate too) can tell you what is the $160 tow package. Everyone tells you something different, like it's a bigger radiator, a trans oil cooler, the hybrid intercooler etc. However I do think I found the real answer. It is ONLY a different connection into the cars computer system for with the tow package, the fuses and integration is partially complete. Look up the wiring kits, and there are 2 different models based on with and without the "tow package". Download the instructions and the one for the tow package (although similar in cost) looks far easier to install. I could not find bigger radiators, or trans coolers or anything functional to towing for the $160. I think it is deceptive for Lexus not to state what is included.
Last edited by AtomicLexus; Aug 23, 2023 at 10:34 AM.
Yeah, after I posted that I looked around, and she has to be off her rocker! When I originally asked for them to install a TRAILER hitch, she wanted to charge me $1000, and good thing I passed because they were just going to put on the activity mount with the 1.25" hole. At least now, for only ~$300, I'll have a real hitch.
On the US site they only offer the activity mount. I do have the "tow package" which AtomicLexus seems to think means I have some better wiring, but would still love to find a plug-and-play harness instead of the Curt one which seems to involve a lot of splicing and running of wires.
My 2010 Lexus RX350 this was so easy. I installed a Curt Hitch and bought a wiring harness for maybe $50 that snapped right in and I was all done.
OK, I got my Draw Tite 76634 yesterday from etrailer.com. As others have pointed out, any hitch ordered from etrailer will come in a mostly-destroyed box! They apparently are very against proper packaging.
I cannot install it all by myself. I live alone, and it's just too unwieldy to maneuver up into place without someone lifting the other end. I'm 99% sure it's going to fit on the 2024 NX350h, but I have an appointment at a garage tomorrow to have them put it on for me. I'll update later.
OK, I got my Draw Tite 76634 yesterday from etrailer.com. As others have pointed out, any hitch ordered from etrailer will come in a mostly-destroyed box! They apparently are very against proper packaging.
I cannot install it all by myself. I live alone, and it's just too unwieldy to maneuver up into place without someone lifting the other end. I'm 99% sure it's going to fit on the 2024 NX350h, but I have an appointment at a garage tomorrow to have them put it on for me. I'll update later.
U-haul should be able to install at a very low cost. Install is very easy. Threaded holes are all existing. Your kick liftgate is unlikely to work properly. It might be better to disable this in your menu system. If you have a bike rack on the hitch, you don't want the liftgate accidently rising up when connecting the bike rack and damaging the car. My $0.02.
Were you able to get this on as a one-man job? Did you you have to loosen the muffler hanger? I'm working by myself and can sort-of manipulate the one end up to where it belongs, but then I can't get the other end up at the same time due to the weight and angles I have to take to get the other end on. I wanted to take off the muffler hangers, but couldn't even budge the bolts for those! I'm going to a garage tomorrow to have them do it, but wonder if I'm a wuss for not being able to do it.
I also don't have a jack or ramps, and the lack of ground clearance while I'm trying to manipulate it doesn't seem to be helping.
This post answers the questions that I had about the Draw-Tite 76201 trailer hitch. This forum is a great source of info but I'll summarize the process I went through to select and install the later on my NX 350 F-Sport. Draw-Tite indicates that the 76201 does not fit on the F-Sport models and this is true. The only reason that I can think of is the fact that the 3-hole muffler hangers get in the way. Changing those hangers for the Rav4's, NX250, NX350H or NX450H hangers would solve the problem but this is not the route that I choose because I preferred to keep the more heady-duty hangers (at least they look like they are) and save of $100. I noticed that the Curt 13498 hitch has a different design that accepts the 3-hole hangers but it is rated 2000 lbs instead of 4500 lbs like the Draw-Tite. Therefore, I bought Draw-Tite 76201 and used my grinder to remove a piece of metal on both side to make it look more like the Curt so I figure that my Draw-Tite is now rate at 2000 lbs which is what the NX 350 is rated for. I started by installing it without the hangers in the way to mark where to cut the hitch. I can also mention that I did not find the Curt 13498 or the Draw-Tite 76634 that I mentioned earlier for purchasing in Canada. That also pushed me towards the 76201 if I didn't want to dish out the total for the Lexus OEM hitch. I didn't have to cut the bumper. I find the hitch to stand a little low at 2" below the bumper and 8 inches from the ground and but I think that I can live with that. Time will tell!
Were you able to get this on as a one-man job? Did you you have to loosen the muffler hanger? I'm working by myself and can sort-of manipulate the one end up to where it belongs, but then I can't get the other end up at the same time due to the weight and angles I have to take to get the other end on. I wanted to take off the muffler hangers, but couldn't even budge the bolts for those! I'm going to a garage tomorrow to have them do it, but wonder if I'm a wuss for not being able to do it.
I also don't have a jack or ramps, and the lack of ground clearance while I'm trying to manipulate it doesn't seem to be helping.
U-haul should be able to install at a very low cost. Install is very easy. Threaded holes are all existing. Your kick liftgate is unlikely to work properly. It might be better to disable this in your menu system. If you have a bike rack on the hitch, you don't want the liftgate accidentally rising up when connecting the bike rack and damaging the car. My $0.02.
Yeah, my issue is that to get one end around the muffler hanger, I need to lift it at an angle and then rotate it into place while the other end is on the ground. But once I do that and put in a bolt, the other end then can't rotate and I'd have to lift it straight up, but it won't clear the muffler hanger on that side that way. Seems that there needs to be someone on both ends who can lift it rotated 90 degrees, and then turn it into place one both ends simultaneously?
Either way, fighting it on the concrete garage floor for an hour wasn't happy for my back, so paying the mechanic may be well worth it! This is the first job I've even had on a car I couldn't do myself, so I'm bummed. I've done two trailer hitches before with no problems.
I turned off the kick sensor until the hitch is on (don't want it to open on them while they're doing the install) then I'll turn it back on and see if it still works. I'm planning on rubber-banding a note to my bike rack to remind me to turn the sensor off anytime I install the bike rack!
I turned off the kick sensor until the hitch is on (don't want it to open on them while they're doing the install) then I'll turn it back on and see if it still works. I'm planning on rubber-banding a note to my bike rack to remind me to turn the sensor off anytime I install the bike rack![/QUOTE]
You'd be better off disabling the rear sensors when you put the rack on as you won't be able to back the car up with the rack in place. I believe it's called rear park assist or something like that. 4 letters on your selection screen. Might be PKSB?
I turned off the kick sensor until the hitch is on (don't want it to open on them while they're doing the install) then I'll turn it back on and see if it still works. I'm planning on rubber-banding a note to my bike rack to remind me to turn the sensor off anytime I install the bike rack!
You'd be better off disabling the rear sensors when you put the rack on as you won't be able to back the car up with the rack in place. I believe it's called rear park assist or something like that. 4 letters on your selection screen. Might be PKSB?[/QUOTE]
Ahhh, thanks! Hadn't thought of that too! Yeah, looking at the manual, it'll definitely think I'm inches from backing into something and hit the brakes. I'll add that to the note I strap to my bike rack as a reminder. Thanks tons!
